CHEM AGENT EXPOSURE OPER DESERT STORM 5 MAR 91

File: 092496_sep96_decls1_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 2

Subject: CHEM AGENT EXPOSURE OPER DESERT STORM  5 MAR 91                 

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003204

Folder Title: CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM                              

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:         28



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        SGRD-UV-ZA


        5 March 91


                                INFORMATION PAPER


                            CHEMICAL AGENT EXPOSL-RE
                             OPERATION DESERT STORM
                                                    5 USC 552 (b)(6)
        1   PFC David Allen Fisher,              is assigned to Scout
        Platoon, HHT, 4/8 Cavalry,,2nd Bde, 3d Armored Division, as a
        cavalry scout, MOS 19D. His exposure to mustard liquid occurred
        on 1 March 91 on the objective of 4/8 Cav in northwestern Kuwait
        (grid reference reported separately by LTC Adams, 3AD Chemical
        officer). PFC Fisher's mission on 1 March included exploring
        enemy bunker complexes for intelligence materiel and personnel,
        and demolition of enemy fighting vehicles. On that date he wore
        Nomex tanker coveralls and a ballistic protective vest. While
        exploring numerous bunkers he remembers coming into contact with
        many surfaces in tight passages, resulting in the soiling of his
        clothing and equipment. He participated in demolition of ZSU-23
        antiaircraft systems, BRDM vehicles, and T55 tanks only. He
        specifically states that he was not in contact with tube or
        rocket field artillery systems.

        2.  PFC Fisher completed his mission at about 1700 on 1 March,
        returned to his platoon area, and experienced no symptoms for 8
        hours until he started radio watch at 0100 on 2 March. At that
        time he felt stinging pain on the skin of his left upper arm, saw
        that the skin had a red sunburned appearance without blisters,
        and thought that it felt like a spider bite. He slept from 0300
        to 0400, woke for stand-to, and felt more stinging pain on his
        arm. At this time there were blisters on the upper arm and more
        reddened skin on the lower arm. At 0800 his company medic
        checked him, thought he might have a heater burn, and had him
   return at 1600, when more blisters had formed on the lower arm.
        At that time he was seen by CW2 Ahmed and CW3 Wildhelm at the 4/8
        Cav aid station.  They suspected he might be a blister agent
        casualty, decontaminated him with 0.5% chlorine solution, applied
        a local dressing and evacuated him to C Co., 45th Support Bn.
        During their evaluation they were assisted by chemical personnel
        who monitored PFC Fisher's clothing and equipment with the
        spectrometer of a Fox NBC recon vehicle.  Initial readings of
        soiled areas of clothing gave weak positive spectra suggesting
        possible lewisite or phosgene oxime contamination. A later
        reading of a soiled area of the left upper shoulder pad of the
        ballistic vest gave a strongly positive reading for HQ, a mustard
        compound. A subsequent Fox survey of the bunker complex was
        positive for mustard, HD.

Document 2 f:/Week-36/BX003204/CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM/chem agent exposure oper desert storm 5 mar 91:0920961557081
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003204
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM
Folder Seq # = 28
Subject = CHEM AGENT EXPOSURE OPER DESERT STORM 5 MAR 91
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 20-SEP-1996